line with the greatest regularity. The coccos were planted
upon flat land, but none of them yet (it was about the end of October)
appeared above ground; and the gourds were set in small hollows, or
dishes, much as in England. These plantations were of different extent,
from one or two acres to ten. Taken together, there appeared to be from
one hundred and fifty to two hundred acres in cultivation in the whole
bay, though we never saw a hundred people. Each district was fenced in,
generally with reeds, which were placed so close together that there was
scarcely room for a mouse to creep between."

Since the commencement of the intercourse of the New Zealanders with
Europe, the sphere of their husbandry has been considerably enlarged by
the introduction of several most precious articles which were formerly
unknown to them. Cook, in the course of his several visits to the
country, both deposited in the soil, and left with some of the most
intelligent among the natives, quantities of such useful seeds as those
of wheat, peas, cabbage, onions, carrots, turnips, and potatoes; but
although he had sufficient proofs of the suitableness of the soil and
climate to the growth of most of these articles, which he found that
even the winter of New Zealand was too mild to injure, it appeared to
him very unlikely that the inhabitants would be at the trouble to take
care even of those whose value they in some degree appreciated. With the
exception, in fact, of the turnips and potatoes, the vegetable
productions which Cook took so much pains to introduce seem to have all
perished. The potatoes, however, have been carefully preserved, and are
said to have even improved in quality, being now greatly superior to
those of the Cape of Good Hope, from which the seed they have sprung
from was originally brought.

In more recent times, maize has been introduced into New Zealand; and
the missionaries have sown many acres in the neighbourhood of the Bay of
Islands, both on their own property and on that of the native chiefs,
with English wheat, which has produced an abundant return.

Duaterra was the first person who actually reared a crop of this grain
in his native country. On leaving Port Jackson the second time, to
return home, he took with him a quantity of it, and much astonished his
acquaintances by informing them that this was the very substance of
which the Europeans made biscuits, such as they had seen and eaten on
board their ships.